Dear Kiribati

It has been 20 years since we first met.

Since I first breathed in your salty air and waded in your warm turquoise blue waters.

Instantly, you intoxicated me.

All of me. My mind, heart, and soul.

But today I fear for you. I fear that the rest of the world will not know you.

Blinded by climate change, they will not see your beauty, your kindness, your katei (culture), worthy of everything this world has to offer and more.

A woman standing on a seawall that protects her land from the ocean. (Photo Credit Raimon Kataotao)

You see… the world hoped to solve this ecological genocide with science, laws, innovation, and money.

But money (or rather greed) is what brought us here today.

And the technology will not develop fast enough to stop what has already been destroyed.

I believe humanity is the only way to solve this.

We are capable of transformational compassion; we see it all the time. This compassion drives each one of us forward to a more globally just society; where greed, hate, and anger fall to the powers of generosity, love, hope, and joy.

Dear world,

I believe in you.

I believe in us.

I believe in humanity.

Because, if the climate can change, so can we.

NO!

So must we.